Workpiece locating structure for punching machine



March 2, 1965 A. K. SCHOTT WORKPIECE LOCATING STRUCTURE FOR PUNCHING MACHINE Filed March 6. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. If 62' ATTORNEYS March 2, 1965 A. K. SCHOTT 3,171,645

WORKPIEICE LOCATING STRUCTURE FOR PUNCHING MACHINE INVENTOR. Jen/ace A. Gkwarr ATTORNE A. K- SCHOTT March 2, 19 5 WORKPIECE LOCATING STRUCTURE FOR PUNCHING MACHINE Filed March a, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 4277/00 4 (S'C'l/OI'I' TTORNIFYS United States Patent Ofi 337M4 5 Patented Mar. 2, IQES ice 3,171,645 WORKPIECE LGtZATING STRUCTURE FUR PUNCHING MACHINE Arthur K. Schott, Kenmore, N.Y., assignor to Houdaiiie Industries, Inc, Bufialo, N.Y., a corporation of l viichigan Fiied Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,578 13 Claims. c2. ass-ass This invention relates generally to punching machines, and more specifically to an improved punching machine embodying novel structure for accurately positioning or locating a workpiece with respect to a tool guide aperture therein.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various punching machine and devices, a particularly useful application is made in a punching machine of the type that acts on a single workpiece, the workpiece being positioned by adjustable gaging forming a part or" the device.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of workpiece-locating means or gaging of a type which is particularly adapted and suited for highly accurate hole location, the degree of accuracy possible with the same being somewhat greater than the play or slop present between relatively pivotable components thereof. More specifically, structure of this type includes a pivotable workpiece-engaging finger which, since it is pivotable, has a certain amount of play in such pivotal connection. Heretofore, when means have been provided to engage each such finger for setting the same at a predetermined point, the play has been taken up in one direction, and when the same finger has subsequently been engaged by a workpiece, the play has been taken up in the opposite direction, thereby creating an error in location substantially equal to the entire play in the pivotal connection of the finger. A feature of the instant invention is that each such finger is engaged on the same side and in the same direction both during the setting thereof, and during the subsequent use thereof. A further feature of the present invention is that it is particularly adapted to cooperate with punch and die means of shaped, that is noncircular, cross-sectional configuration, the punch and die means being angularly adjustable about concentric axes thereof to any position. A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of simplified structure by which the gaging mechanism is guided. It is also .to be noted that a removable gaging spacer is included whereby the structure used to set an adjustable stop may also be used to directly position the workpiece.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved punching machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a punching machine embodying a novel structure for accurately positioning or locating a workpiece.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel guide structure for the gaging mechanism.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means by which any slop or play in a workpiecelocating finger does not enter into the accuracy of the workpiece location effected by such finger.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a gaging structure which may be used selectively for either accurately positioning a stop, or for accurately directly locating a workpiece.

Many other advantages, features, and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings: v

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a punching de vice provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the same being illustrated in conjunction with a suitable press, shown in broken lines, for operating the same;

' FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top view of the punching device of FIGURE 1 FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line IIIH;I of FIGURE 2 FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along line IV-IV of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along V-V of FIGURE 2, with certain parts of the stop member omitted for clarity;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VIVI of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VIIVII of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of an accessory for the structure shown in FIGURE 5.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodied in a punching device such as illustrated in FIGURE 1, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The punching device It) includes a rigid frame having a lower arm 11 and an upper arm 12, each of which is respectively provided with an aperture 11a and 12a. The apertures 11a and 12a are thus defined by means which are vertically spaced from each other but which are disposed close together. This spacing is sutficient to admit a workpiece, but is not adequate to admit bulky gaging structure.

Within the aperture 11a there is disposed an annular member 13, and within the aperture 12a there is disposed another annular member 14 concentric with the annular member 13. The annular members 13, 14 are each rotatable within the apertures in the lower and upper arms, and are supported by such arms respectively. To this end, each annular member 13, 14 is provided with a peripheral flange 15, 16 respectively. Each of the annular members 13, 14 is provided with one or more internally directed grooves 17, 18 respectively, which are receptive of keying of cooperating punch and die means having shaped or noucircular cross-section, not shown. Punch and die means of that type are known in the art, and in place thereof, I have herein illustrated a simulated punch or calibrating tool 19 which has a key 26 received in the groove 18 for effecting corotation between the tool 19 and the annular member 14. There is also illustrated a simulated .die 21 having a key 22 received in the groove 17. This keying precludes relative rotation between each annular member and the tool received by it, thereby insuring corotation therebetween. The tool 19 has a grooved lower face which receives upwardly extending structure on the tool 21, the same having an interengagement which precludes relative rotation therebetween. By means of this type of simulated tooling, the annular members 13, 14 can be rotated to any angular position about their common axis and there locked, thus readying the frame for receiving cooperating punch and die means of shaped cross-section, the angular relation between such shaped cross-section and the gaging presently to be described thus being fixed.

The annular member 14 is locked in position by a number of set screws 23, shown in FIGURE 1, which are supported by the upper arm and which act on the annular member 14.

The lower annular member 13 is locked in position by a structure shown in FIGURE 7 which includes selectively effective locking means carried entirely by the f selected amount.

sition of the annular member 13.

annular member 13 and removable therewith. This structure includes a bearing member or ball 24 received in an aperture in the outside or outer surface of the annular member 13,.and a threaded camming member 25 which acts on an inner point on the bearing member 24 to cam the bearing member 24 outwardly by a pre As illustrated, it will be noted that the bearing member 24 is seated in a socket 26 which serves to provide or define a single predetermined angular po- When the bearing member 24 has been retracted, the annular member 13 may be rotated and the bearing member 24 squeezed into locking engagement with the lower arm 11 at any position selected.

If desired, a spring-loaded ball assembly 27 may be provided in the annular member 13 to cooperate with a groove 28 in the tool 21 to keep the same from falling out during handling thereof when the device is detached or removed from the press. This feature is known in the art and forms no part of this invention.

A pointer 29 is carried by the upper arm 12 for cooperation with a protractor 30, shown in FIGURE 2,

carried on the upper surface or flange 16 of the annular member 14.

When the device 10 has been provided with appropriate punch and die means, it may be installed on or in a suitable press indicated in broken lines at 31 in FIGURE 1, for operation thereby. The device 10 is particularly adapted to be received in a channel 31a and is cammed against a side thereof by a cam block 32 shown in FIGURE 2.

The upper surface of the arm 11 serves as a workpiecesupporting surface or table 33, which is augmented by adjacent surface on the press 31, if desired. Thus, the workpiece (not shown) may be inserted in the punching device 10 and the press31 operated, to perforate the workpiece. However, the instant structure is particularly adapted to guide or to locate the workpiece with respect to the centerline of the punch and die means. Stated otherwise, the particular apparatus disclosed here is adapted to accurately locate the workpiece with respect to the punch and die means so that the aperture produced thereby will be properly disposed with respect to a preselected reference edge of the workpiece. To this end, structure is provided for accurately positioning or locating the workpiece with respect to a redetermined reference point, the reference point in this instance being the concentric axes of the rotatable annular members The lower arm 11 is provided with a pair of slots which open in the workpiece-supporting surface 33. A first of these slots is indicated at 34 and serves primarily as a guide slot, and a second of these slots is indicated at 35 and receives a clamp. The slots 34 and 35 extend substantially the entire fore and aft length of the lower arm 11, thus providing a wide range of adjustment for the gaging structure, and also permitting its ready removal by passing the same over the forward edge of the lower arm 11.

In the slot 34, there is provided a series of uniformly spaced gaging holes 36, and a series of uniformly spaced threaded holes 37. A support member 38 is clamped in the groove 34 by a thumbscrew 39, the support member 38 supporting an adjustable length gage 40 of the micrometer type, the same having a portion or spindle 41 which serves as an adjustable accurately located stop. Further details of this adjustable stop structure are shown in FIGURE 4. V

In FIGURE 4, there is shown a fragmentary side view of the stop structure just described. The gaging holes 36 and the threaded holes 37, in this embodiment, are provided in a separate strip 42 which is disposed on the bottom of the groove 34 in a fixed relation to the lower arm 11. The member 38 is provided with a round pilot pin 43 which is rigidly secured thereto and disposed in one of the gaging holes 36, and with a further pilot pin 44 which prevents any movement of the bracket or member 38 about the axis of the pin 43, the pilot pin 44 being received in another of the gaging holes 36. The pilot pins 43 and 44 are referred to herein as plugs and are rigidly secured to the member 38. The member 38 also supports the micrometer in a rigid manner.

As best seen in each of FIGURES 1 and 2, the device 10 also includes a movable gage bar assembly, generally indicated by the numeral 45. The gage bar assembly includes an elongated rigid means comprising an elongated bar 46, a support rail 47, and support rail brackets 48, 48 which secure the support rail 47 rigidly to the bar 46. The brackets 48 dispose the rail 47 in a position slightly above and forward from the bar 46. The bar 46 is slidably supported on the table 33 and is also guided by one edge of the groove 34 for forward and backward movement wherein it traverses the various gaging holes 36. Thus the bar 46 extends transversely to the guide slot 34. The rear edge of the bar has a portion which abuts the s indle 41 of the micrometer 40, whereby the rearward position of the bar 46 is accurately determined. The forward edge of the bar 46 comprises a reference surface 49 which is perpendicular to the groove 34, the direction of movement of the bar 46, and the direction of adjustment of the micrometer 40. The reference surface 49 is disposed immediately adjacent to the surface of the table 33 to serve as an abutment for being directly engaged by an edge of the workpiece, to locate the workpiece. The various calibrations illustrated in FIGURE 2 for the different gaging holes 36, and also for a scale 50, each refers to the distance between the axis of the annular mem bers 13, 14 (or tools) and the reference surface 49.

An elongated guide key 51 is secured as by a pair of screws 52 to the bar 46 within a downwardly directed groove, the guide key 51 also extending downwardly therefrom into the groove 34 in slightly spaced relation to the insert strip 42. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the left edge of the guide key 51 engages the left edge of the groove 34; these interengaging edges comprise the sole reference for determining the perpendicularity between the reference surface 49 and the groove 34.

To lock the bar 46 in a selected position where such perpendicularity exists, there is provided a clamp lever 53 pivoted as at 54 to the bar 46, the lever 53 having a pair of fingers 55 which extend into the groove or slot 35 to engage a clamping surface 57 therein in response to counterclockwise pivoting of the clamp lever 53, effected by rotation of a clamping scew 58. The clamping screw 58 acts between the other end of the lever 53 and the upper surface of the bar 46.

The gage bar assembly 45 further includes a number of stop assemblies slidably supported thereon, and thus each having an adjustable location. One of these stop assemblies is illulstrated in FIGURES 2 and 6, and is generally indicated by the numeral 59. The stop assembly 59 in cludes a block 60, a clamping arm 61 which has a bifurcated end pivotally secured to the block 60, a clamp screw 62, and a stop finger 63 having a bifurcated end pivotally secured to the block as at 64. Each stop assembly 59 may be moved as a unit to any selected posi tion along the length of the rail 47 and clamped into such position. The surface of the pivotal finger 63 which. is remote from the viewer in FIGURE 6, and which i indicated at 65 in FIGURE 2, comprises a reference surface which is substantially perpendicular to the length of the.

bar 46 and rail 47, and which is substantially parallel to axis of the tool means.

the guide slot 34. The reference surface 65 is engaged. by another edge of the workpiece to locate or position: the same in a left and right direction with respect to the Even when the stop assembly 59 is constructed to close clearances and tolerances, it may be expected that there will be some slight play or slop in the pivotal connection 64, and when the finger 63 is thus engaged by the workpiece, such play is taken up in one direction.

In order to position one or more stop assemblies 59 at a preselected point, means are provided which are calibrated to indicate and to define the spacing. To this end, the bar 46 is also provided with a series of uniformly spaced gaging holes 66 disposed along the length thereof, and a series of uniformly spaced threaded holes 67 dis posed intermediately of the gaging holes 66. Cooperating between the holes 66, 67 and the reference surface 65, there is provided an assembly generally indicated at 68 which coacts between the holes 66, 67 and the reference surface 65, the assembly 68 as a whole being referred to herein as a calibrated bracket and as an adjustable length gage.

The assembly 68 includes a plate 69, a bracket 70, and a thumbscrew 71. The plate 69 extends over at least one of the holes 66 and one of the holes 67 and is disposed against the bar 46, the bar 46 being a part of the rigid means of the gage bar assembly. Gage plug means indicated at 72 are rigidly secured to the plate 69, the gage plug means 72 having a lower end 72a which is snugly received in one of the gaging holes 66, and an upper end 721) which extends upwardly from the plate 69, and the outer surface of which comprises a first gaging surface. An annular spacer 73 is provided which surrounds the upwardly projecting portion 72b of the gage plug means, the outer surface of the spacer 73 comprising a second gaging surface. The fit between the gage plug means 72 and the spacer 73 is close so that the radial thickness of the spacer may be accurately provided.

The bracket 70 is slidably supported adjacent to the plate 69, and in this embodiment, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, is supported by the plate 69. An adjustable micrometer 74 is rigidly secured to the bracket 70, and has a spindle 75 engageable with the gaging surface on the spacer 73 as shown, and engageable with the gaging surface on the gage plug 722) when the spacer 73 has been removed. Clamp means indicated as at 76 securely holds the micrometer 74, similar structure being provided but not shown for the micrometer 40. The micrometer 74 thus comprises an adjustable length gage or gage element within the adjustable length gage assembly 68.

The bracket 76 is also provided with reference surface means 77 which defines a first reference surface 78, and a second reference surface 79. The references surfaces 78 and 79 are parallel to each other and are spaced from each other by a distance equal to the radial thickness or effective thickness of the spacer 73. Thus the reference surfaces 78 and 79 are directed in opposite directions with the second reference surface 79 being directed toward the center of the device for being engaged by a workpiece. Both reference surfaces 78 and 79 are thus perpendicular to the length of the rigid means or portion of the gage bar assembly, and hence perpendicular to the reference surface 49.

When the spacer 73 is in the position illustrated, the surface 78 is used to advantage, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 6, to engage the reference surface 65 of the stop finger 63.

Thus with the spacer 73 removed and the spindle portion 75 in engagement with the gage plug means 72b, the reference surface means 77 is in a first position wherein the reference surface 79 may be used to engage the workpiece directly for positioning or locating the same, and when the spacer 73 is added, the reference surface means 77 is shifted to a second position wherein the reference surface 78 may be utilized to engage the stop finger 63.

It is a particularly important feature of this invention that the reference surface 65 of the stop finger 63 is engaged at the same point and in the same direction both during the setting thereof by the reference surface 73 and, after the assembly 68 has been removed during the subsequent engagement thereof by the workpiece whereby any play or slop is taken up in the same direction, both during setting and subsequent use.

The thumbscrew 71 extends through a slot 80 in the bracket 70, through the plate 69, and into one of the threaded holes 67. When one of the reference surfaces 78, 79 has been set to the desired position by the micrometer 74, the thumbscrew 71 may be tightened. Tightening of the thumbscrew 71 not only locks the position of the reference surface, but also enables the micrometer spindle to be retracted slightly for insuring that forces applied to the reference surface 79 will not act adversely on the micrometer itself. A similar benefit is obtained by the tightening of the clamp screw 58 to protect the micrometer 40. The micrometers 40 and 74 are of a conventional type known in the art, graduated to a fineness of at least .001 inch. A scale 81 having conventional graduations is also provided on a beveled edge of the bar 46 adjacent to the reference surfaces 65 and 79 for use when less precision in the setting thereof is required. The graduations of the scale 81, of numerals adjacent to the gaging holes 66, and on the micrometer 74, relate the reference surface 78 when a spacer 73 is used to the centerline of the tooling, and relate the reference surface 79 to the same point when the spacer 73 is omitted.

On occasion, it becomes necessary to provide a reference surface against which the workpiece shall engage where the reference surface would need to be located within the narrow opening defined between the upper and lower arms 12, 11 rspectively. To this end, I have provided an elongated thin extension 82, shown in FIGURE 8, removably secured as by a screw to the reference surface 79. The extension has an auxiliary reference surface 83 which is parallel to the main reference surface 79. The term main as used herein is a term of reference and has not been used to denote a greater importance for the surface 79 as compared to the reference surface 78.

To enable punching close to the reference surface 49, the bar 46 is provided with a semicircular clearance zone 84, the center of which is rearwardly offset with respect to the reference surface 49. Thus the forwardly opening recess in the back gage bar 46 may receive tool means to enable working on the workpiece extremely close to its reference edge.

When the workpiece locating structure or gage bar assembly 45 is to be employed, the adjustable back gaging shown in FIG. 4, which includes the elements 38-41, is positioned over a selected pair of gaging holes 36 with the pilot pins 43 and 44 received therein. This enables the thumbscrew 39 to be secured in the intermediate threaded hole 37. The gaging holes 36 selected represent the integral number of units, such as inches, in the dimension being set. Thereafter, the gage bar assembly is moved into engagement with the spindle 41 of the direct reading adjustable length gage or micrometer 46 which is positioned to indicate thereon the decimal portion of the dimension desired. The clamping screw 58 is then tightened, whereby the reference surface 49 of the gage bar assembly 45 is locked a predetermined distance from the centerline of the punch and die means, such predetermined distance being directly indicated by thedescribed gaging. Once the clamping screw 58 has been tightened, the spindle 41 can be retracted from the gage bar assembly 45 without any effect on the position thereof. A workpiece can now be moved against the reference surface 49 to any of various lateral positions thereagainst, in all of which a reference edge of the workpiece engages the reference edge 49.

The structure shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8 is utilized to predefine a selected number of such lateral positions. As indicated earlier, a number of stop assemblies such as shown in FIG. 6 are provided, and each is clamped to the support rail 47 at such a position that the workpiece-engaging reference surface 65 thereof is spaced the proper 7 distance from the centerline of the tooling.- To this end, the gaging assembly 68 is placed over the gaging and threaded holes 66, 67 with the lower end 72a of the gage plug means 72 received in that one of the gaging holes 66 which represents the integral number of units, such as inches, in the desired dimension. The thumbscrew 71 is received in one of the threaded holes 67, but is left in a loose position. The spindle 75 of the direct reading gage or micrometer 74 is disposed against the spacer 73 as shown in FIG. 5, with the direct reading gage or micrometer 74 indicating the decimal portion of the dimension. With the thumbscrew 71 in a loose position, the bracket 7 may slide back and forth freely on the plate 69 within the limits of movement permitted by the shank'of the thumbscrew 71 which is disposed in the slot 80. Once the decimal portion of the desired dimension is indicated by the adjustable length gage 74, and with the spindle 7 thereof in engagement with the spacer 73, the thumb screw 71 may be tightened. The foregoing steps dis pose the reference surface 78 at the selected distance from the centerline of the tooling. Thereafter, the, clamp screw 62 of one of the stop assemblies is loosened to enable sliding thereof along the support rail 47 to a point where thereference surface 65- of the pivotable finger 63 engages the reference surface 78. This engagement should be firm so that any slight play will be entirely taken up, Then the clamp screw 62 is tightened, and thus the dimension indicated by the adjustable gaging 68 is transferred to the stop assembly 59.

The procedure of the foregoing paragraph is repeated for each of the other stop assemblies 59 which may be employed, the thumbscrew 71 being retractable from the threaded hole 67 to enable removal of both the bracket 70 andthe plate 69 The assembly 68 may be employed in place of one of the stop assemblies 59-, provided that it is disposed, assuming the structure to be as shown herein, at the left of such stop assemblies 59. By removal of the spacer 73, the reference surface 79 occupies the plane normally occupied" by the reference surface 78, and the dimension indicated on the direct reading gagingthen defines the distance from the reference surface 79 to the centerline of the tooling.

Assuming that one of the stopassemblies 59- is set as far to the right as the structure will permit, there is a small range of dimensions which thus cannot be reached with such structure. In order to set any such dimension, the extension 82, shown in FIG. 8 is secured to the reference surface 79, thespacer 73 is omitted from use, and the reference surface 83; is employed in place of the reference surface 79 The over-all length of the extension 82 being an integral number of inches or other selected units, mental compensation or allowance is made in the setting of the gage'74'. The extension82 being-thin will reach between the upper and lower tool supports to dispose the reference surface 83 at any dimension between the centerline of the toolingand that which can be provided by one ofthe stop assemblies 59.

As the workpiece is passed beneath the rigid rail 47", it engages the downwardly directed sloping surface of the pivotable finger 63, best seen in FIG. 6, topivot each such finger upwardly and out of theway, thereby enabling the workpiece to engage the reference surface 49. The workpiece-isthen moved to the leftorto the right and into engagement with successive referencesurfaces 65;

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such, embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I..claim as my invention: ,7

l. A structure for accurately positioning in relation to. a predetermined reference point, comprising in combinationi an elongated rigid means having a a' workpiece series of uniformly spaced gaging holes disposed along the length thereof; a stop assembly slidable on said rigid means and having clamp means for selectively preventing sliding thereof, said stop assembly including a pivotally supported finger, said finger having a reference surface extending perpendicularly to the length of said rigid means and directed for being engaged by an edge of the workpiece; gage plug means receivable selectively in any one of said gaging holes and having a gaging surface disposed outwardly thereof; a bracket supported on said rigid means; and an adjustable length direct reading gage supported by said bracket and having a spindle engageable with said gaging surface of said gage plug means; said bracket having a reference surface perpendicular to the length of said elongated rigid means, said reference surfaces being engageable With each. other, whereby any play in said pivotally supported finger taken up during setting thereof is again taken up the same direction when said reference surface on said finger is engaged by the workpiece.

2. A structure for accurately positioning a workpiece in relation to a predetermined reference point, comprising in combination: an elongated rigid means having a series of uniformly spaced gaging holes disposed along the length thereof; a stop assembly slidable on said rigid means and having clamp means for selectively preventing sliding thereof, said stop assembly including a finger, said finger having a reference surface extending perpendicularly to the length of said rigid means; gage plug means receivable selectively in any one of said gaging holes and having a first gaging surface disposed outwardly thereof, said gage plug means including a removable spacer member engaging said first gaging surface and having a second gaging surface spaced by a distance from said first gaging surface; a bracket supported on said rigid means; and an adjustable length direct reading gage supported by said bracket and having a spindle engageable alternatively with both of' said gaging surfaces of said gage plug means; said bracket having a pair of parallel reference surfaces spaced from each other by said distance and extending perpendicularly to the length of said elongated rigid means; one of said bracket reference surfaces being engageable with the reference surface of said finger when said spacer member is in position for setting the position of said stop assembly; the other of said bracket reference surfaces being engageable with the workpiece when said spacer member is removed, for directly positioning the workpiece.

3. In a workpiece-locating structure having an adjustably locatable stop assembly including a pivotally supported workpiece-engaging finger, the improvement of means for positioning said stop assembly comprising: a calibrated bracket supported on said structure and having areference surface engageable with said finger, said finger being engageable therewith at the same place and in the same direction as it is to engage the workpiece during the locating thereof, whereby any play in the finger is taken up in the same direction during both the setting of thestop assembly and the locating of the workpiece.

4. In: aworkpiece-locating structure having an adjustably locatable stop assembly including a pivotally supported workpiece-engaging finger, the improvement of means for positioning said stop assembly comprising: a calibrated bracket supported on said structure and having a pair of oppositely directed parallel reference surfaces, a. first of which is engageable with said finger, said finger being engageable therewith at the same place and in. the same direction as it is tov engage the workpiece during the locating thereof, whereby any play in the finger is, taken up in the same direction during both the setting of the stop assembly and, the locating of the workpiece; a second of which reference surfaces is disposed for being directly engaged by the workpiece during further locating thereof.

5. In a workpiece-locating structure having an adjustably locatable stop assembly, the improvement comprising: an elongated rigid means having a series of uniformly spaced gaging holes disposed along the length thereof; a gage plug receivable selectively in any one of said gaging holes and extending therefrom; a calibrated bracket supported in said rigid means and having reference surface means extending perpendicularly to the length of said rigid means, said calibrated bracket being engageable with said gage plug for placing said reference surface means in a first position; and a spacer receivable between and engageable by said gage plug and said calibrated bracket for placing said reference surface means in a second position; said reference means being operative to locate the workpiece and the stop assembly while in said positions.

6. A structure for accurately positioning a reference surface in relation to a predetermined reference point, comprising in combination: an elongated rigid means having a series of uniformly spaced gaging holes and a series of spaced threaded holes disposed along the length thereof; a plate disposed above one of said gaging and one of said threaded holes, said plate having a gage plug rigidly secured thereto and received at its lower end in said gaging hole and having an exposed gaging surface at its upper end; a bracket slidably supported adjacently to said plate; an adjustable length gage secured to said bracket and having a portion engageable with said gaging surface of said gage plug; and a thumbscrew extending through a slot in said bracket and through said plate and received in said one threaded hole to lock said plate and said bracket in a selected position; said bracket having means extending perpendicularly to the length of said rigid means and defining the reference surface.

7. A structure for accurately positioning a reference surface in relation to a predetermined reference point, comprising in combination: an elongated rigid means having a series of uniformly spaced gaging holes and a series of spaced threaded holes disposed along the length thereof; a plate disposed above one of said gaging and one of said threaded holes in engagement with said rigid means, said plate having a gage plug rigidly secured thereto and received at its lower end in said gaging hole and having an exposed gaging surface at its upper end; a bracket slidably supported on said plate; an adjustable length gage secured to said bracket and having a portion engageable with said gaging surface of said gage plug; and a thumbscrew extending through a slot in said bracket and through said plate and received in said one threaded hole to lock said bracket and plate together in a fixed selected relation to said rigid means; said bracket having means extending perpendicularly to the length of said rigid means and defining the reference surface.

8. A structure for accurately positioning a workpiece in relation to a predetermined reference point, comprising in combination: a table having a workpiece-supporting surface; a movable gage bar assembly slidably supported and guided on said table, and having a reference surface perpendicular to its direction of movement and directed for being engaged by an edge of the workpiece; a series of uniformly spaced gaging holes in said table and disposed to be traversed by said gage bar assembly during the movement thereof; a member disposed above one of said gaging holes, said member having a plug rigidly secured thereto and snugly received in said one of said gaging holes; and an adjustable length gage secured to said member and having a portion engageable with said gage bar assembly for accurately locating said reference surface.

9. A structure for accurately positioning a workpiece in relation to a predetermined reference point, comprising in combination: a table having a workpiece-supporting surface; a movable gage bar assembly slidably supported and guided on said table, and having a reference surface perpendicular to its direction of movement and directed for being engaged by an edge of the workpiece; a series of uniformly spaced gaging holes and a series of spaced threaded holes in said table and disposed to be traversed by said gage bar assembly during the movement thereof; a member disposed above one of said gaging and one of said threaded holes, said member having a plug rigidly secured thereto and snugly received in said one of said gaging holes; a gage supported by said member and being adjustable in length in the direction of movement of said gage bar assembly, said gage having a portion engageable with said gage bar assembly serving as a stop for accurately locating said reference surface a selected distance from the reference point; and a thumbscrew, received in said one threaded hole, for locking the position of said member.

10. A structure for accurately positioning a workpiece in relation to a predetermined reference point, comprising in combination: a table having a workpiece-supporting surface; said table having a guide slot, opening in said workpiece-supporting surface and extending substantially coextensively therewith; a gage bar assembly slidably supported along a portion thereof by said Workpiece-supporting surface and extending transversely to said guide slot; an elongated guide key secured to said gage bar assembly and disposed in said guide slot, said key having a close lateral fit therein; said gage bar assembly having a reference surface perpendicular to said guide slot for being engaged by an edge of the workpiece, said gage bar assembly including at least one stop slidably adjustable for a distance along the length of said gage bar assembly and having a reference surface parallel to said guide slot for being engaged by another edge of the workpiece; the key and slot engagement comprising the sole reference for maintaining the perpendicularity and parallelism of said reference surfaces respectively with respect to said guide slot.

ll. A structure for accurately positioning a workpiece in relation to a predetermined reference point, at which point there is disposed closely vertically spaced means, comprising: a table having a workpiece-supporting surface for disposing a workpiece between the vertically spaced means; a movable gage bar assembly slidably supported and guided on said table, said gage bar assembly including a gage of adjustable length adjustably secured thereto, said gage having a main reference surface perpendicular to the length of the gage bar assembly and facing toward the predetermined reference point; and an elongated thin extension removably secured to said main reference surface for extending between the closely spaced means, said extension having an auxiliary reference surface parallel to said main reference surface.

12. A structure for accurately positioning a workpiece in tWo positions in relation to a predetermined reference point, comprising in combination: an elongated rigid means having a series of uniformly spaced gaging holes and a series of spaced threaded holes disposed along the length thereof; an adjustably locatable stop assembly slidable on said rigid means and having a pivotally supported workpiece-engaging finger; a plate disposed above one of said gaging and one of said threaded holes in engagement with said rigid means, said plate having a gage plug rigidly secured thereto and received at its lower end in said gaging hole and having an exposed gaging surface at its upper end; a bracket slidably supported on said plate; an adjustable length gage secured to said bracket and having a portion engageable with said gaging surface of said gage plug; a thumbscrew extending through a slot in said bracket and through said plate and received in said one threaded hole to lock said bracket and plate together in a fixed selected relation to said rigid means; said bracket having a pair of oppositely directed parallel reference surfaces, a first of which is engageable with said finger, said finger being engageable therewith at the same place and in the same direction as it is to engage the workpiece during the locating thereof,

whereby any play 1n the finger is taken up in the same direction during both the setting of the stop assembly and the locating of the workpiece; a second of which reference surfaces is disposed for being directly engaged by the workpiece during further locating thereof; and a spacer having an effective thickness identical to the spacing between said oppositely directed reference surfaces, said spacer being receivable between and engageable with said gage plug and said adjustable length gage for shifting said reference surfaces.

13. A structure for accurately positioning a workpiece in relation to a predetermined reference point, comprisring in combination: a table having a workpiece-supporting surface; a movable gage bar assembly slidably supported and guided on said table, and having a reference surface perpendicular to its direction of movement and directed for being engaged by an edge of the workpiece; a series of uniformly spaced gaging holes and a series of spaced threaded holes in said table and disposed to be traversed by said gage bar assembly during the movement thereof; a member disposed above one of said gaging and one of said threaded holes, said member having a plug rigidly secured thereto and snugly received in said one of said gaging holes; a gage supported by said memher and being adjustable in length in the direction of movement of said gage bar assembly, said gage having a portion engageable with said gage bar assembly for accurately locating said reference surface a selected distance from the reference point; and a thumbscrew, received in said one threaded hole, for locking the position of said member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Examiner. 

10. A STRUCTURE FOR ACCURATELY POSITIONING A WORKPIECE IN RELATION TO A PREDETERMINED REFERENCE POINT, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A TABLE HAVING A WORKPIECE-SUPPORTING A SURFACE; SAID TABLE HAVING A GUIDE SLOT, OPENING IN SAID WORKPIECE-SUPPORTING SURFACE AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVELY THEREWTIH; A GAGE BAR ASSEMBLY SLIDABLY SUPPORTED ALONG A PORTION THEREOF BY SAID WORKPIECE-SUPPORTING SURFACE AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY TO SAID GUIDE SLOT; AN ELONGATED GUIDE KEY SECURED TO SAID GAGE BAR ASSEMBLY AND DISPOSED IN SAID GUIDE SLOT, SAID KEY HAVING A CLOSE LATERAL FIT THEREIN; SAID GAGE BAR ASSEMBLY HAVING A REFERENCE SURFACE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID GUIDE SLOT FOR BEING ENGAGED BY AN EDGE OF THE WORKPIECE, SAID GAGE BAR ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE STOP SLIDABLY ADJUSTABLE FOR A DISTANCE ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID GAGE BAR ASSEMBLY AND HAVING A REFERENCE SURFACE PARALLEL TO SAID GUIDE SLOT FOR BEING ENGAGED BY ANOTHER EDGE OF THE WORKPIECE; THE KEY AND SLOT ENGAGEMENT COMPRISING 